Ilia Topuria has laid out a bold strategy for a potential fight against Islam Makhachev, focusing on grappling to secure a submission victory. In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Topuria expressed his desire to 'shock the world' by taking down and submitting Makhachev, who is renowned for his ground game. Topuria stated, 'When I get the opportunity to fight with someone, I always think about what I can do to really shock the world.' He acknowledged that while his plan might sound ambitious, he believes it can happen. However, he also raised concerns about the timing of the fight, suggesting that from a promotional standpoint, it might not be wise to pit the two fighters against each other while they are at their peak. Topuria noted the importance of their respective fan bases and the potential impact on long-term promotional strategies. The anticipated matchup continues to be a hot topic in the MMA community, with both fighters discussing it publicly despite no official fight announcement.